Air-moistening apparatus.



R. WALLACE.

AIR MOISTENING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29. 1916.

1,201,897. Patented Oct. 17,1916.

YHE mare/us PETERS m, Pncvmu n10" wasmm; mm a. c.

r STA ROLAND WALLACE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

AIR-MOISTENING APPARATUS.

Application filed. January 29, 1916.

To all whom it may] concern:

Be it known that I, ROLAND WALLACE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Air-Moistening Apparatus, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in air moistening apparatusgenerally, and more particularly to devices useful in maintaining aproper degree of humidity in horizontal cigar display cases. The aircontained within such inclosed spaces is without motion, and wherevertically disposed moist curtains, or other moist bodies are situatedin one or more places, the air only immediately surrounding the moistbodies is affected, while the surrounding air is comparatively dry. Itis very essential that the required humidity be equably disposedthroughout the entire area of the inclosed space, and thisis onlypossible when the moisture is equably distributed throughout the entirearea.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a means whereby thedistribution of moisture is general for a period of time, or until theentire amount'of air with in the inclosed space is rendered humid, andthen to supply moisture locally to maintain the required degree ofhumidity.

A further object is to provide a form of apparatus that may beadjustable to show cases of various sizes.

With these objects in view, I have devised the moistening apparatusherein described and claimed, the functions and application of whichwill be better understood by reference to the drawings andspecifications, in which Figure ,1, represents a perspective view of aglass show case containing the moistening apparatus with the moisteningcurtain extended. Fig. 2 represents a central section of the moisteningroll with the side rods out off at the supports. Fig. 3 represents anend elevation of the moistening roll etc., with the supports removed.Fig. 4 represefits a rear elevation of the same, showing the roll usedin removing surplus moisture from the moistening roll. Fig. 5 representsa portion broken away of the adjustable side rods, showing the clampnut. Fig. 6 represents a section taken on lines ww 0 Fig. 5.

Specification of Letters-Yatent.

Patented Oct. 17, 1916.

Serial No. 75,052.

Similar numerals of reference refer. to

represents a glass show-case containing the entire moistening apparatus,consisting of a water container or trough 2, provided with an ear 2 atone end having an open slot as shown, and an ear 2* at the other end,provided with a hole. A strip of absorbent fabric 3, preferably ofcotton cloth, is rolled on a tubular roller a which contains a coiledspring 5 surrounding a rod 6. One end of the spring 5 passes through ahole 6 of the rod 6, and is secured thereto, and the other end issoldered or otherwise permanently secured to the cap 4* also permanentlysecured to the roller 4:. The roller f is also provided at one end witha pin 4 which passes through the hole in the ear 2 of the trough 2,being free to rotate therein, and the fiattenediend 6 of the rod 6engages the slot 2* in the ear of the trough 2, which prevents the rod 6from turning. The trough 2 is also provided with a lug 2 at each endcontaining a set screw 2 One end of the moistening fabric 3 ispermanently secured to the roller 4:, and the other end is provided witha rigid metal strip 3 which is provided with a hook 3 located in themiddle as shown. The moistening fabric 3 is rolled upon the springroller t and is considerably longer than the show-case, so that whenextended, a considerable quantity will still be rolled on the roller 4:in order that the fabric may still take moisture from the trough 2.

A roller 7 located back of the fabric roll 3, and in contact therewith,is mounted on a spindle 7 the ends of which pass through holes 8 in theupper ends of the swing brackets 8, being free to rotate therein. Lugs2", each being provided with a hole, are mounted on the back of thetrough 2, and a rod 9 passes through these lugs and the lower ends ofthe brackets 8, hinging the roller 7 to the trough 2. Two coiled springs9 are mounted, one at each end of the rod 9, one end of the springs inengagement with the brackets 8 and the other with the back of the trough2 as shown, pressing the roller 7 firmly against the fabric roll 3 andremoving any excess water from the fabric as it is being unrolled.

The trough 2 is mounted on uprights or supports 10, which pass throughholes in the lugs 2. Setscrews 2 secure the trough firmly in position.At the-other end of the show-case, two other uprights or supports 10 areplaced,connected with a rod 15, and both sets of uprights are connectedat the top 11 with adjustable side rods 12 and 13, The rod 12 slips intothe tubular rod 13 which is provided at one end Wth a tapered thread andthree slots 13 equidistantly separated. A knurled nut 14 engages thethreaded end of the rod 13, and when tightened, holds the two rodstogether firmly as one. In this manner, the length of the apparatusmaybe adjusted to suit show-cases of various sizes.

In operation, at night, or at stated intervals, the moist curtain 3 isdrawn the full length of the show-case and fastened to the end rod 15 bythe hook 3 presenting a moist surface to and over the entire area of theshow-case, increasing the humidity of the air contained. Only a portionof the fabric roll or curtain is extended, the halanee remaining on theroll and being immersed in the trough 2, which contains Water into whichhas been placed a small quantity of a suitable odorless antisepticfluid.

The object ofthe use of a bacteria destroy Which can be increased at anytime by drawing the curtain over to the end rod 15. In

very long cases, tWo of the devices may be 40 mounted, one at each endof the show-case, and hooked together in the middle.

I claim: l. The combination With a storage compartment, a spring rollerin the same, a

neath said sheet for supporting said sheet r in a horizontal plane Whenunrolled and extended throughout the compartment.

2. The combinatlon W1th a storage compartment, a spring roller 1n thesame, a

horizontally disposedsheet of absorbent material adapted to roll uponthe spring roller, means for supplying moisture to the ab sorbentmaterial, and means extended beneath said sheet and adjustable to saidcompartment for supporting said sheet in a horizontal plane whenunrolled and extended throughout the compartment.

3. The combination with a storage compartment, a Water trough in thesame, a

spring roller, a sheet of absorbent material applied to said roller andadapted to obtain molsture from said trough, and means held I undertenslon agalnst said roller for removing excess moisture from said sheetas it is being unrolled. g

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of twoWitnesses.

ROLAND WALLACE. Witnesses E. H. RIDGELY, W. C. DUVALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C.

